Sort this or our season could quickly untravel
IF Hearts are to have a chance of splitting the Old Firm they need to find a way to start digging out wins on the road.
Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Motherwell was a sore one.
Going five away games without a win isn’t great but I’m sure it will be addressed by Robbie Neilson and his staff.
It also doesn’t get any easier because the next trip is to Celtic Park a week on Thursday.
The squad don’t want it going to six or seven matches on their travels without a win. It could become a mental block and things could start to slip quickly.
Rangers and Celtic are renowned for going to harder places and digging out wins 98 or 99 per cent of the time.
Look at Chelsea at the weekend, they went to Leicester and beat them. If you’re going to be successful you need to win both home and away.
In fairness I do expect the team to get back to winning ways against St Mirren at home in four days’ time, although that will be another hard game.
Celtic away comes after that. The good thing is Celtic Park is a big pitch. Both teams will want to come out and play so it will probably suit Hearts.
I don’t think they have anything to fear.
Five on the road without victory is not good enough
The players may need to be a bit more streetwise at places such as Motherwell and Ross County.
It’s about understanding how to win away from home because it’s a difficult thing.
It’s different when it’s mostly your own fans and you’re accustomed to playing in a certain way. When you’re on the road it’s about managing what’s put in front of you.
In fairness the coaching staff and players have learned a lot from last season. Recruitment has been good and the style of play has got better.
Every time there has been a setback, they’ve learned from it. I’m sure they will again.
It was the same when I was at Hearts. We always seemed to be poor at Motherwell – it’s a difficult place to go. They are long, direct and play off second balls. It’s a lesson for the Hearts players involved.
A lot of teams will try to do that against them at home. They will lump the ball forward, play off second balls and make things horrible for them.
It’s all about the players learning and finding a way to dig out results. They can’t dwell on it, especially with the start the team have had.
They’ve done ridiculously well and this has to be a learning curve for them.
It can be easier when we’re playing good football and it is free-flowing. This Hearts squad know they can be a match for anybody on their day.
When you strip things back, it has still been an amazing start to the season.
Hibs have got to the Premier Sports Cup Final but we just need to look after ourselves.
It’s not ideal because I don’t think any Hearts fan wants to see Hibs in a final with a chance of silverware. I certainly don’t.
At the same time, we need to concentrate on our house – the league is the bread and butter.
For Robbie it’s all about Hearts and what they can affect.
As it stands, that is beating St Mirren this Saturday.
Motherwell could be a minor setback and that’s all it will be if they beat the Buddies.
Robbie has already said he wants a striker in January so he also knows where needs to be strengthened.
I wrote last week that Hearts can’t just hang their hat on Liam Boyce. The team need a striker and a centre-half – if John Souttar moves on – by way of strengthening.
That being said, there’s still plenty to look forward to on the maroon side of Edinburgh. FEELING THE PINCH